Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-01
#isffltaaep,,s 8eading.
ABOUT SNAKES.

ABOUT SNAKES.
According to most naturalists there
are about 1000 species of snakes in
the world. In North America, prin-
cipally in the United States and
Mexico, 1872 Of these species are found.
Of these twenty-five only are ven
omous. There are different varieties
of the rattlesnake, coral snake, and
copperhead family. The moccasin
snake of the South and Southwest,
which is also called the cotton mouth
and water moccasin, is a near rela-
tive of the copperhead. The greatest
number of poisonous snakes occur
ring in any one region in the United
States are in Arizona and New Mex
leo. The species of venomous snakes
therefore number only about one
sixth of the whole number uf varie-
ties contained in the country. In
the States north of the southline of
the central tier only three species of
poisonous snakes are found. These
are the scale-headed rattlesnake, the
platS headed srattlesnake, and the
copperhead. In the South the pois-
onous sorts are more plentiful. The
harmless snakes, which comprise
ITO of the 1872 kinds inhabiting the
country, are found in every State
and Territory.
Herpetologists usually divide the
snake family into five subordinate
groups, thus: Burrowing, ground,
tree, fresh water and sea snakes.
These names suggest their peculiari-
ties with sufficient clearness. The
snake moves by the aid of the curved
scales with which he is abundantly
supplied, acting in conjunction with
the ribs. These scales and ribs are
thrust forward, and, catching on
rough surfaces, enable the reptile to
move, sometimes with considerable
rapidity. The movement, however,
is lateral and sinuous, never verti-
cal or by an up-and-doWn twist OF
the body. The latter style of loco
motion, however, is the one which is
usually pictured in the illustrated
papers whenever an attempt is made
to show how snake travels.
Venomous snakes can usually be
distinguished at glance from those
that are harmless. There is mark
ed difference in external appearance
between the two varieties. The
venomous ones have hard scales,
with head and body fattened to a
considerable degree, the neck, when
contrasted with the other portions,
appearing to be narrow. In the
harmless snakes, head and body, as
we'll as neck, are cylindrical, and the
scales are comparatively small. The
tongue in the poisonous reptile is
longer, and the teeth larger than in
the poisonous. The venomous
species sometimes retreat when con-
fronted by man, although they al
ways have more or less ferOcious
appearance. The harmless ones al.
ways get out of the way as quickly
as possible when a man is encounter
ed. These distinguishing marks will
hold good generally throughout the
world. 1t is important to bear them
| in mind.
THE GRASS SNAKE.
The common ringed or grass snake
is familiar all over the world. 1t is
perfectly harmless. No more serious
injury would result from a bite OF
the. grass snake-Which, in some OF
its varieties, is about the only rep
tile to be encountered in the woods
and fields within fifty miles of any
of the large Northern cities-than
would ensue from the bite of chick
en-. Nevertheless, its appearance
outside of a cage generally provokes
fear in most persons who may chance
to be near it, and always excites dis.
gust. There is about as much real
cause for the one emotion as there is
for the other. For tits not only as
gentle as dove, and far more harm
less than a kitten, but it is difficult
to imagine how any created thing
could have been more beautiful and
graceful. 1t ranges in length, when
full grown, from about II to 4 feet.
The average length is about 2 feet
6 inches. It lives in woods, grass,
and on the edges of water courses.
It's teeth are very small so small,
indeed, that they would hardly pen
citrate the skin of the human finger,
say, if the reptile should close them
upon it. Sometimes it takes to the
water, in which element it is at
home. Insects and frogs are its prin-
cipal food. Like all other snakes
in the temperate zone, it hibernates
in winter in logs or other sheltered
places.
The color of the most common va
riety of grass snake is grayish green
on the back and sides, and lighter
color on the belly. Along the back
run two rows of small dark spots, and
row of larger and oblong spots is
stretched down each side. The spots
vary in shape and color on different
varieties. All sorts of grass snakes
are exceedingly timid, and flee on
the approach of a child. The beaded
snake which is common in fields and
roads through out the country, is
equally beautiful and innocent.
THE BLACK SNAKE.
The black snake is also we'll known
in the United States, and, like the
grass snake, is harmless. The av-
erage length of this reptile is about
four feet, although specimens have
been killed which measured six feet.
Racer is a name sometimes given to-
it, because of the rapidity with
which it can 60 over the ground or
climb tree. The antics of this
species, especially during the breed
ing season, are calculated to strike
terror into the heart of any person
unacquainted with it's powerlessness.
1t will shake the grass or the leaves
of the branches of tree, and fairly
we'll initiate the whirring noise of
the rattlesnake. But there is no
need of any person being alarmed
at this. Unlike the common grass
snake, however, the black species
have teeth sufficiently long to pene-
trate the skin and infiict a moder-
ately severe wound, but poison is
always absent. The black snake
likes the edges of streams, ponds, or
lakes, although in the hot weather it
is often found basking in the sun.
Rabbits and squirrels are a favorite
article of diet with it, and its popu-
lar mode of killing these animals is
by coiling around them, as the boas
encircle the large animals, thus
crushing them. 1t preys also on the
| eroo llar h;r6c Tba nOlor of this